What We Offer
Available 24 Hours
We emphasize on providing each client with an exemplary level of service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Free Case Evaluations
We work on a contingency fee, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
Our team of experienced lawyers will help you throughout the length of the complicated legal process, so you can concentrate on recovering.
Auto Injury Information
It is an unfortunate part of life that sooner or later you or someone you know will be involved in an car accident. Suffering an injury and enduring the trauma of a motor vehicle accident can be stressful enough, let alone trying to understand all the legal steps necessary to make sure your rights are preserved. The legal team at Harding Mazzotti, LLP is committed to ensuring aggressive representation for all of its clients and is available to provide answers to your questions and to make sure your rights are protected.
We handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases, including but not limited to:
- Automobile Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Tractor-trailer Accidents
- Big Rig Accidents
- 18-Wheeler Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Cargo Truck Accidents
- Delivery Van Accidents
- Semi-Truck Accidents
- Fuel Truck Accidents
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries
In 2018, there were over 6.7 million car accidents in the United States, and over 2.7 million persons were injured.[1] Almost any type of injury can occur in a car accident, and the types of injuries can vary greatly depending upon a number of different factors as no two collisions are exactly the same. It is possible to sustain both short-term injuries, which resolve with prompt treatment, and long-term, long-lasting injuries that often require serious and repeated medical interventions.
Before discussing the most common types of car accident injuries, it is worth noting the main factors that contribute to both the type and severity of these injuries.
- Speed. Whether the accident occurred when the vehicles involved were travelling at high speeds or low speeds is a major factor.
- Position of the Occupants. An occupant’s body can be facing the front, side or even toward the back of the vehicle at the time of the collision, and often the position of the occupant’s head alone can be a big factor in the injuries sustained.
- Direction of Impact. Was the vehicle struck from the side, front, rear or at an angle?
- Seatbelts. Were the occupants wearing seatbelts and wearing them properly? If so, this, along with whether and what type of airbags were deployed, can act to mitigate the injuries suffered in a crash.
When describing the common types of vehicle accident injuries, they are usually categorized as impact or penetrating injuries. An impact injury occurs as a result of some part of the body making violent contact with the interior of the vehicle. For example, a car accident may cause a vehicle passenger’s knees to strike the car’s dashboard, or the driver’s head to strike the side window. A penetrating injury happens when an object, usually one already in the car, enters the victim’s body.
Now let’s look at the most common injuries resulting from a vehicle accident.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue, also referred to as connective tissue, is comprised of muscles, ligaments, tendons and other supportive tissue in the body. The physical forces at work during an accident, even a low-speed accident, are enough to bruise soft tissue and cause serious injury. The most common type of soft tissue injury is referred to as whiplash, where the initial impact of the accident forces the body violently in one direction and then back again, much like cracking a whip. While many people think of whiplash as affecting the neck and upper spine, whiplash injuries can injure the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the mid- and lower back as well. In addition to whiplash, contusions, bruises, cuts, sprains and joint dislocations are also soft tissue injuries.
Cuts and Scrapes
Lacerations, (open wounds to the skin), scrapes or abrasions are types of soft tissue injuries that commonly occur in a car accident. Most often it is loose objects in the vehicle, such as purses, pens and pencils, GPS devices, books, packages, phones and coffee mugs, that fly about at the time of impact and cause both impact and penetrating injuries. Cuts and scrapes can be relatively minor or can require immediate medical attention and possibly stitches. A deploying airbag can also cause minor cuts and scrapes in an accident.
Head Injuries
As discussed above, the head is often thrown about violently in a car accident, leading to whiplash as well as cuts and bruises to the face. However, more serious injuries can occur when the head strikes the interior of the car, such as the dashboard, steering wheel, window or door pillar. This can result in what is called a closed head injury. Closed head injuries are the result of the brain striking the inside of the skull, and the result can be mild, such as a concussion, or more severe. The most severe form of closed head injury is called a Traumatic Brain Injury, where brain tissue has actually been damaged or destroyed, resulting in a loss of brain function and often requiring long-term rehabilitation.
Chest Injuries
In addition to bruises and contusions to the chest, a vehicle occupant may suffer broken ribs, a fractured sternum or more serious complications such as organ damage and/or internal bleeding. Chest injuries are most commonly caused by impact with the steering wheel, the dashboard, other areas within the vehicle and, in some cases, an air bag or shoulder belt, but the latter often only cause minor injuries. The fear of injury should never prompt you to disable your vehicle’s airbag(s) and all occupants should always wear a seatbelt; these devices have been proven to save lives.
Injuries to the Arms and Legs
As mentioned above, the position of the occupants of a vehicle often determines the types of injuries sustained in an accident. Both driver and passengers often have limited leg room, which results in injuries to the legs and knees when they impact the dashboard or the seats in front of them. Also, the direction of the impact often determines the severity of the injuries, as passengers on the side of vehicle that is struck may suffer more serious arm and leg injuries as those limbs strike the interior of the car.
Emotional Trauma
Though not as immediately apparent as the injuries already discussed, many vehicle accident survivors experience emotional pain in the wake of the event. The symptoms of emotional trauma can include anxiety, depression, moodiness and irritability, sleeplessness, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional withdrawal and more. Left untreated, emotional trauma can interfere with your daily functioning and can, in some cases, become debilitating.
It is important to note that some injuries, both physical and emotional, may not appear until days or even weeks after a vehicle accident. That is why it is imperative to seek medical help right away if you begin experiencing pain or other symptoms at any time after an accident.
If you or anyone you know has been injured in an automobile accident of any kind, the attorneys at Harding Mazzotti, LLP, have a wealth of experience in dealing with insurance companies and in protecting your right to receive the compensation you’re entitled to. Our attorneys handle all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those involving automobiles, motorcycles and all types of truck accidents.
How We Can Help
It is important to realize that if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, you should seek the help of an attorney. Our experienced auto accident attorneys remain on the cutting edge of the law so we can help you get what you deserve. Our law firm is dedicated to making things easier for you; we offer personal attention to all of our clients during the legal process.
Think Big
Call the Heavy Hitters
Our team of auto accident lawyers is devoted to protecting your rights and helping you receive the money you deserve. Let our professionals do all the heavy work. Our experienced lawyers will take charge of your case so you can relax and be with your loved ones. Get started today by filling out the form above or by giving us a call.
There’s No Fee Unless We Win.
It’s Our No Fee Policy.®
Are you suffering from an auto injury or disability as the result of another person’s negligence? You may have a claim. Don’t Wait, Get Help Today! We’re here for you 24/7.
By submitting your request via our online forms or chat, you grant permission to our company and any third party affiliate or law firm to contact you by phone, text messaging and/or email using the phone number or email address that you provided so we may assist you with your request for a free case evaluation and you consent to the use of an automatic telephone dialing system and or a telephone dialing system using an artificial or prerecorded voice message, even if the number you provide us is a wireless line. You acknowledge that submitting this form and the information contained therein does not establish an attorney client relationship, and therefore, you will not rely upon this information as legal advice. By submitting this form, you understand that any information received in response to this questionnaire is general information for which there will be no charge.